Gono's upbeat assessment of the country's prospects in his mid-year monetary policy statement on Monday coincided with an absence of bread on shop shelves because of a poor winter wheat harvest, adding to the list of widespread shortages of basic items that includes fuel, water, electricity and medicines. Donor agencies estimate that more than a third of Zimbabweans are on the cusp of severe food shortages.

The belief by Gono that supermarket shelves will soon fill up is based on the government's introduction of price controls in June, which forced the supply chain to slash commodity prices by 50 percent and led to empty shop shelves, staff being laid off and the closure of businesses.

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[4 Oct 2007 07:17]

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